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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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SIMPLE PLAN
+ Boys Like Girls
+ We The Kings + Jax
@ John Cain Arena, Melbourne,
11th April, 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Stephanie Tang

Photos by Rena Tan (@bear.n.tripod)

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Despite the dreary gray start to today, it ends with the descent of a mega-stacked pop punk lineup of nostalgic dreams. An Arena show headlined by Simple plan supported by Jax, We The Kings & Boys Like Girls is to take place. A country wide sold out tour. There are four bands on tonight, so an early start is a must. You bet the corporate emos were sneaking out before 5pm today.

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JAX / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Exploding onto stage with energy and rhythmic flair, Jax is feeling the melody not only in words but also body. Those front of the mosh were waving their arms in the air, and grooving along to sick, pulsating urban rock beats. Her sound can be described as little bit of Sugababes, dash of Amy Winehouse, groove of Dizzee Rascal and heaping of All Time Low. There’s a healthy mix of everything that makes you want to dance.

I’m nodding along to the lighthearted track asking, “what would Adam Sandler do?” when I notice, it’s the infamous Jess Bowen on drums from The Summer Set. We gotta love girls supporting girls. Finishing with sugary rock track “Victoria’s Secret”, Jax sweeps off stage with delighted applause.

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WE THE KINGS / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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With only a short intermission, We The Kings kicks into “Skyway Avenue”. One of their most popular tracks from back when, fans are whipped into a frenzy. Straight shooting, no bs, I love punctuality at shows, and fans love We The Kings. Riding off that momentum the band continues with euphoric “She Takes Me High” and “When We Were Young”. If only State Champs were here, so Sanders could sing his feature. Now that would be the trifactor of a pop punk lineup, State Champs even features on a Simple Plan track.

We The Kings played their own headline show the night before in Melbourne, however they’re not showing any fatigue. Bringing mountains of positivity and vivacity “I Feel Alive” had people jumping in waves to the spirited chorus. Finally letting the vibe rest a little, melancholic “Sad Song” brought feet to rest and phones into the air, with pin pricks of light waving all around.

The best part of a We The Kings show are the anecdotal stories. Easter eggs about the creation of songs, or band memories which leaves the crowd cackling. Clark tells the story about falling in love with an Australian girl, which is how everyone soon came to be bobbing their arms up and down to, “Say You Like Me”. Saving “Check Yes Juliet” to last, they ended their set with an arena sing along sans instruments or backing track, only the crowd singing back the chorus to a well chuffed band, as they waved goodbye.

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BOYS LIKE GIRLS / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Appearing in a more flourished fashion, Boys Like Girls ambles on stage one by one, to a dystopian background film clip in black and grey. The drum beat of “Lovedrunk”, could be picked out in the techno medley. Soon they were ready and so were the crowd. Fists in the air and upbeat neon pop swirling all around, something sounded off. Johnson’s vocals sound a little creaky, and its hard to tell how he’s feeling with the shades on. As the chorus kicks in and into a higher pitch, Johnson’s vocal timbre becomes more vibrant, more like the emotionally charged vocalist he’s known to be.

Staying strong as a unit for “5 Minutes to Midnight”, “Blood Sugar” and “She’s Got a Boyfriend Now”, the crowd is transported back to better days. Of a time when we draped fringed skull scarves around our necks, wore vests and burnt our hair straight. Alternating between newer tracks “Language” and sweet oldies “Two is Better Than One”, they balance the potential gap between their fan base well. Despite the eleven-year hiatus between the last two albums, fans seemed to know a bit of the entire set list.

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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The years may be catching up to the boys, as they strangely sit to drag a cigarette during their set. The punch didn’t land, and the punters didn’t quite understand the bizarreness of why they were smoking indoors. Whelp, a moment to catch a breath, and the show resumed. They’ve shown they’re not afraid to try new things shown through their feature in “Can’t Stop Me” by K-pop superstars TWICE, which they played tonight, and even mixed some house beats into “Heart Heart Heartbreak”. Finally, they played “The Great Escape” to much crowd enthusiasm, but it also meant the end of their set.

Ever the jokesters, Simple Plan blasts the Star Wars theme song on their arrival. Amidst smoke jets and confetti, the guys are cannonballing into the set headfirst and so are their fans. The only complaint is the blinding flashing lights as I deliriously belting out “You Suck at Love”. Luckily the lights get moodier for “When I’m Gone” and “Your Love Is a Lie”. After a round of skulky emo songs it’s time for some sunshine. “Summer Paradise” brings out dozens of beach balls being bounced atop the crowd.

Cruising with the good times, Simple Plan play song after song that connects, unite and whips the crowd into dizzying excitement. Certainly, leaning into the power of nostalgia through “Shut Up” and “I’m Just a Kid” guarantees thunderous sing along, however latest single “Iconic” hits the angst factor just as hard through emotional lyrics and anthemic hooks. Jax is of course on stage to lend her raspy vocals to her feature lines, a delicious track to hear live.

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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With such a large discography spanning two decades, Simple Plan did well to have songs from all albums present in the setlist. A rapid fire mash up let the band punch out a medley of tracks including “Vacation” specially written for the iconic movie New York Minute. Even bringing out multiple Scoobys for the lively “What Would Scooby-Doo”.

A mammoth set with two very short intermissions, the night had to end soon. By now voices were hoarse but faces were smiling as the first notes of “Perfect” rang out. A fitting song to end on, as the whole night was near perfect as perfect could be. As the crowd’s voices echo throughout the arena for the chorus, guitar and drums intensify for the hook.

Streamers shoot out across the mosh. With streamers strewn across the floor and confetti scattered suspended in the air, the song ended in a dreamlike state. With warm hearts and arms the band wave goodbye to the crowd and Comeau throws multiple drumsticks out into the crowd. Some lucky fans would go home tonight with more than just ecstatic memories.

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Check out Rena Tan’s (@bear.n.tripod) full gallery of this event HERE

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Follow SIMPLE PLAN
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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SIMPLE PLAN / Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Press Release 31st October 2023 (below) HERE

SIMPLE PLAN
announce additional shows in
Perth, Brisbane & Sydney
plus a venue upgrade in Melbourne
due to overshelming demand

+ Add special guest
JAX
to Australian Tour 2024 with
BOYS LIKE GIRLS & WE THE KINGS

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Destroy All Lines Presents

SIMPLE PLAN
AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2024

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
BOYS LIKE GIRLS & WE THE KINGS

SATURDAY 6 APRIL – METRO CITY, PERTH SECOND AND FINAL SHOW
SUNDAY 7 APRIL – METRO CITY, PERTH SOLD OUT
TUESDAY 9 APRIL – ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE THEATRE, ADELAIDE
THURSDAY 11 APRIL – JOHN CAIN ARENA, MELBOURNE VENUE UPGRADE
SATURDAY 13 APRIL – HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY SOLD OUT
SUNDAY 14 APRIL – FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE SOLD OUT
MONDAY 15 APRIL – FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE SECOND AND FINAL SHOW
THURSDAY 18 APRIL – HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY SECOND AND FINAL SHOW

Tickets from destroyalllines.com

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AMNPLIFY – DB